Esme Stallard
Science reporter

Image source, NASA

You need to be a certain height - between 5ft 2in and 6ft 2in (62in-75in), have a science degree, and face the risk of death on the job.

But despite all that, Nasa astronauts don't earn millions for their endeavours. Currently they are paid $152,258 (£115,217) a year.

And getting one of these coveted posts is one of the most competitive processes on Earth...and probably Space.

When Nasa last opened its applications in 2024 more than 8,000 people stepped forward - from this, only ten were selected.

And application rounds aren’t opened every year.

Nasa has only ever selected 370 astronauts, so worth having a back-up plan.

Georgina Rannard
Science reporter

Today is building up to the snazzily named "trans-lunar injection" burn. Basically, it is a massive push that will propel them out of Earth orbit and on course to the Moon.

It is supposed to happen early Friday morning UK time, but if there are problems, it could be postponed or even cancelled.

A cancellation would be a major setback for Nasa and the US as it tries to become the first country to land humans again on the lunar surface by 2028.

If it all goes to plan, the burn will fire for six minutes to send them on a trajectory around the Moon that also uses lunar gravity to slingshot them back to Earth.

Eventually they should fly 6,400 miles (10,299km) beyond the far side of the Moon, which always faces away from the Earth.

That's meant to happen on Monday (6 April).

The astronauts will be the first people to see some areas of the far side of the Moon, although probes from countries including India and China have previously documented this region.

They'll be taking photographs and making observations of this mysterious place for us to see and learn from back on Earth.

Image source, Reuters

While the astronauts catch four-and-a-half hours of shut-eye, let's recap Artemis II's journey so far.

• As the rocket carrying the four astronauts propelled into the sky, our science editor at the scene described feeling its force passing through her body
• Though spectacular, the launch wasn't without its difficulties; issues with the Launch Abort System were hastily fixed, while a broken toilet has since been reported as "go for use" - meaning it now can be used
• As Artemis II began its orbit of Earth and with equipment checks complete, it soon became the astronauts' job to fall asleep; no easy feat according to one aerospace professor
• Upon waking up, the crew complained of conditions feeling "very cold" in the cabin - though they have described the view of Earth as "phenomenal" and "spectacular"
• Next, a significant moment arrived as the astronauts were cleared to carry out perigee raise burn - the moment where the lowest point of the spacecraft's orbit is moved higher, readying it to set course to the Moon
• With crucial system checks complete, the astronauts have now returned to their vertical sleeping bags for another four-and-a-half hours of sleep - captain Reid Wiseman signed off by saying: "Goodnight Earth"

Georgina Rannard
Science reporter

Image source, Reuters

The crew of the Orion space craft are asleep at the moment - they rest in approximately four-hour periods.

The Orion spacecraft that Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on is now orbiting Earth about 42,500 miles away (68,397km).

When not resting, the crew is testing the spacecraft.

The craft's solar wings were fully deployed not long after launch, giving it power to help sustain its journey.

About the size of a minibus, the spacecraft has never been flown in space before by humans, so pilot Victor Glover is spending the day pushing it to the extreme.

Nasa want to be sure Orion is voyage-worthy before the crew push on into deep space from where there is no easy return.

They're testing out the life support systems too.

If something goes wrong, the crew has specially-designed suits that could keep them alive for around six days.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, in Florida

That is the official line, but many experts believe that to be optimistic.

The plan for the Moon landing is elaborate. First, the SLS mega rocket launches an Orion capsule into lunar orbit.

Waiting there is a second, commercially built spacecraft that acts as a lunar lander. Two astronauts climb aboard, ride it down to the surface for several days of exploration, then blast back up to rejoin Orion for the journey home.

It is being done in this complicated way because the US Congress has effectively locked Nasa into flying SLS and Orion, pushing the agency towards buying the lander from private firms rather than building a single all-in-one spacecraft, like Apollo.

SpaceX’s Starship, owned by Elon Musk, is first in line for that job, with Blue Origin - owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - developing a rival lander later in the decade.

But Starship still has to prove it can reach orbit, refuel in space and dock reliably - all before Nasa will risk a crew.

Looming large over all this is the prospect of China attempting its own crewed landing around 2030.

If Artemis keeps slipping, Washington risks watching Beijing plant the next flag on the Moon, and that is a race US politicians are very reluctant to lose.

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

They have done crucial system checks, tested the comms system and completed two burns to get the spacecraft into the correct orbit - now it's time for the astronauts to go back to sleep.

Their sleep schedule is tightly controlled as with everything on this mission, to make sure they are well rested but running the critical tasks when required.

For this round they will only get four and a half hours before their alarms go off again.

For now, from their small home for the next nine days, the commander Reid Wiseman signs off.

"Goodnight Earth."

If the crescent Earth in our last post doesn't convey the scale of this mission, here's another picture - this time showing the Moon.

On the top right of the photo below, you can see a small white dot - that's our closest neighbour.

We'll hopefully be getting much closer to it over the next few days.

Image source, Nasa

If you're wondering what the blue planet looks like from space, a view from the Artemis II stream a little earlier shows a crescent Earth. In our last posts, we brought you comments from Commander Reid Wiseman about how his view of half the Earth was "spectacular", while mission specialist Christina Koch said it was "phenomenal".

You're welcome to wave up at the Orion spacecraft from the ground, but we're not totally sure that the astronauts are going to see you.

The view is being streamed from the solar array wing of the Orion spacecraft.

Image source, NASA

"I just wanted to describe for you guys the beauty that we're seeing," mission specialist Christina Koch says.

"You can actually make out the coastline of the continent, you can make out rivers because of the sunglare, you can see high thunder clouds [...] the South Pole lit up."

"It is just phenomenal," she adds.

"It is just absolutely phenomenal. You guys look great."

We've just heard from Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman as the crew do their last checks before going back to sleep.

"We just didn't want to let you go without saying that the view out of window three, from about 38,000 nautical miles, the entire half of the earth is spectacular," Wiseman says.

"I love to hear that so much Reid, so glad you guys are getting to experience it," the control room replies.

The Artemis II crew have checked the emergency communications system following the successful perigee raise burn.

This consists of various voice tests to make sure the spacecraft can regain communications with mission control in the case of an issue, despite such a situation not being expected.

The emergency communications system uses Nasa's Deep Space Network - an international array of giant radio antennae which support interplanetary spacecraft missions.

The network provides radar services and aids astronomers who are studying the solar system and universe.

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

The crew have successfully completed the perigee raise burn, where the lowest point of the elliptical orbit the spacecraft is on is moved higher.

"It was a good burn," declared mission control.

The move only took around fifty seconds.

Years of design, 10 days to get to the Moon and back. But the series of manoeuvres that the team need to make it a success often only last a few minutes.

It shows how much this multi-billion dollar endeavour is in the detail.

The perigee raise burn is now under way, the Nasa control room says.

This burn will help prepare the capsule for its trans-lunar injection burn, which Nasa mission control describes as the "last major engine firing of the mission".

That means that the spacecraft's lowest point in orbit is being raised higher, a crucial step in sending the capsule Moon-ward.

The Orion is due to perform the perigee raise burn in just a few minutes, with the spacecraft's solar array wings now in position.

The service module of Orion has four of these wings in total, with each about 23 feet (7m) in length. Each wing is made of three panels.

The solar array wings are used to convert light into electricity and can turn on two axes, remaining aligned with the sun for maximum power.

After a few checks between mission control and astronaut Christina Koch, the team have completed their final "burn conference" ahead of the perigee raise burn.

These conferences take place ahead of any burn during the mission to ensure the crew on the ground and the astronauts in the capsule are "on the same page", Nasa says.

Artemis II have been given the all clear to execute the perigee raise burn in just under 20 minutes' time - that will help prepare the capsule for its trans-lunar injection burn, which Nasa mission control describes as the "last major engine firing of the mission".

Here's what to know about the burn.

There's been a bit of chatter between astronaut Christina Koch and the control centre. Temperature is the crew's concern right now.

Koch asks mission control: "It is very cold in the cabin, any chance you can make it warmer, or reduce the cabin fan speed a bit more so the ventilation is not blowing as hard?"

The control team say that while the crew were asleep they turned one of the knobs and saw a slight temperature increase.

"We're going to take a look at some of these shell heaters and we'll let you know when we start putting some of that in work and we can see if that affects the temperature in a positive way," mission control says.

"Thank you, Mike," is Koch's response.

Image source, NASA

Astronauts aboard the Artemis II Moon mission have woken up to carry out some critical tests.

We can hear the crew speaking to the mission control centre in Houston.

"Houston integrity, good morning, we are with you for PRB ops," Christina Koch says.

The crew are waking up from their nap to prepare for the perigee raise burn, an additional engine firing.

It will lift the lowest point of Orion’s orbit around Earth.

This burn will help prepare the capsule for its trans-lunar injection burn, which Nasa mission control describes as the "last major engine firing of the mission".

The trans-lunar injection burn will propel Orion on a path towards the Moon and set it on its return trajectory to bring the astronauts back home in a few days' time, Nasa says.

After this morning's perigee raise burn, the astronauts are set to go back to sleep at around 09:40 EDT (14:40 BST).

The crew have been resting for the last four hours following the launch excitement, but mission control says they will be woken up in the next five minutes to prepare for the next step of their mission.

The team are waking up for about 07:00 EDT (12:00 BST) and will work for a little under three hours to prepare the Orion spacecraft for trans-lunar operations.

They'll then go back to sleep for another four hours.

Like most of us down on Earth, on a typical mission day astronauts have scheduled time for breakfast, lunch and dinner - Nasa says its menu is "designed to support crew health and performance".

What's on the menu?

Artemis II has 189 unique menu items - listed among the most common are tortillas, mango salad, spicy green beans and granola with blueberries.

There are also more than 10 types of beverages, ranging from coffee to a mango-peach smoothie and a strawberry breakfast drink. Each astronaut is allotted two of these per day.

Here's why

The Artemis II crew had direct input into menu selection, with their preferences balanced alongside nutritional requirements and what the Orion spacecraft can accommodate.

These foods must be easy to store, prepare, and consume in microgravity while minimising crumbs and waste. There is no fresh food on board, as Artemis II has no refrigerator.

While on board the crew uses Orion's portable water dispenser to rehydrate food and drink. There's also a briefcase-style food warmer to heat meals.